{"id":2618169,"date":"2026-06-23T23:21:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T03:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-cait-conley-to-challenge-republican-mike-lawler-in-new-york\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T23:22:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T03:22:57","slug":"democrat-cait-conley-to-challenge-republican-mike-lawler-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-cait-conley-to-challenge-republican-mike-lawler-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat Cait Conley to challenge Republican Mike Lawler in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrat-cait-conley-to-challenge-republican-mike-lawler-in-new-york%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2618169&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Cait Conley secured a victory in the Democratic primary for New York\u2019s 17th Congressional District, enabling her to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in the upcoming general election. Conley, an Army veteran, received 51.5% of the vote in a crowded race, defeating her closest competitor, Beth Davidson, who garnered 28.9%. Effie Phillips-Staley finished third with 15.6%. Conley&#8217;s win is significant as it represents a setback for Lawler, who had tried to influence the primary in favor of davidson and faced challenges from outside spending and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/did-president-trump-spring-a-trap-on-treasonous-democrats-on-election-night\/\" title=\"Did ... ... Spring a Trap on Treasonous ... on Election Night?\">political scrutiny<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >district remains<\/a> a key battleground, with Lawler considered a centrist and facing an uphill fight amid national political headwinds, including declining approval ratings for President Trump and broader geopolitical issues. Conley\u2019s campaign was scrutinized over her connections to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-30-house-races-will-determine-if-republicans-or-democrats-win-the-majority\/\" title=\"These 30 House ...s Will Determine if ...s or ... Win the Majority\">tech companies involved<\/a> with DHS, but she defended her associations as related to public safety. Lawler has maintained support from Trump, including a rally in his district, despite attempts by Democrats to portray him as a MAGA Republican. The race is viewed as competitive, with moving parts that could influence control of the House in the 2024 elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrat Cait Conley won the right to challenge Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on Tuesday night, winning a crowded House primary in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a>\u2018s 17th Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conley, an Army veteran, received 51.5% of the vote when the race was called at 9:44 p.m. She was competing against a field of four other candidates, but her biggest competition was Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson, who placed second with 28.9% of the vote.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4622170\/cait-conley-beth-davidson-mike-lawler-new-york\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrat Cait Conley to challenge swing district Republican Mike Lawler in New York<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4622160\/boafo-democratic-primary-steny-hoyer-maryland\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Boafo wins Democratic primary for Steny Hoyer\u2019s seat in Maryland\u2019s 5th District<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4619187\/new-york-10th-democratic-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lander defeats Goldman in Democratic primary for New York\u2019s 10th District<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effie Phillips-Staley, who ran to the left of both Conley and Davidson, placed third with 15.6%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conley\u2019s victory marks a setback for Lawler, who meddled in the primary to elevate Davidson. Conley also survived around $1 million in outside spending by a PAC suspected to be funded by Republicans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/new-york-us-house-17-polls-2026.html\">going into the primary<\/a> showed Conley ahead by double digits, and she was also the top fundraiser of the pack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The district is one of the top battlegrounds for this fall and one of just three districts that elected a Republican to the House while backing Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, in 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawler has fostered his reputation as a centrist by occasionally bucking House leadership and prioritizing GOP-opposed tax breaks that disproportionately help New York. But his race will be fought amid <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/approval\/donald-trump\/approval-rating\">declining approval ratings<\/a> for President Donald Trump and the headwinds of an Iran war that has fueled rising energy costs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats must net just a few seats to retake the House majority, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Lawler\u2019s race as a \u201ctossup.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the primary, Conley faced scrutiny over her ties to two tech companies whose contracts with the Department of Homeland Security sparked accusations that she was complicit in Trump\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4616813\/new-york-city-ice-operation-opportunity-gop\/\">deportation agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4619854\/trump-endorses-john-james-michigan-governor\/\"><strong>TRUMP ENDORSES JOHN JAMES IN MICHIGAN GOVERNOR\u2019S RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conley, in turn, argued her association with the companies was limited to public safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawler has not shied away from the president, even as Democrats attempt to brand him as a MAGA Republican. He held a May <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4580457\/mike-lawler-embrace-trump-campaign-push\/\">rally with Trump<\/a> in Rockland County, one of the redder parts of his district.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Conley wins NY17 primary to face Rep. Lawler in November<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2618170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26142674469860-e1782261739650.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[81634,4912,54621,32120,5894],"class_list":["post-2618169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cait-conley","tag-democrat","tag-mike-lawler","tag-new-york","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26142674469860-e1782261739650.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618169"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618173,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618169\/revisions\/2618173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2618170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2618169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2618169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}